Polyglotism

Polyglotism or polyglottism is the ability to master, or the state of having mastered, multiple languages. The word is a synonym of multilingualism, but in recent usage polyglot is sometimes used to refer to a person who learns multiple languages as an avocation. The term hyperpolyglot was coined in 2008 by linguist Richard Hudson to describe individuals who speak, to some degree, dozens of languages.

Multilingualism, including multilingual societies as well as individuals who speak more than one language, is common. Individual polyglots or hyperpolyglots speak, study, or use large numbers of languages. In rare cases polyglot savants have mental disabilities but are able to learn many languages.

Most nation states are home to multiple ethnic groups and multiple languages. Likewise, most individuals use more than one language, at least to some extent. Informal surveys suggest that the number of languages spoken in multilingual societies is typically between two and six languages. There is a lack of consensus on such numbers, however, due to the lack of shared definitions of multilingualism and the difficulty of differentiating among language varieties.

Some individuals speak, study, or otherwise use large numbers of languages. One of the most noted hyperpolyglots – speakers of many languages – was Cardinal Giuseppe Caspar Mezzofanti, an Italian priest reputed to have spoken anywhere from 30 to 72 languages. Individuals calling themselves "polyglot" generally speak, read, or otherwise use five or more languages, in some cases several dozen.

Many polyglots and hyperpolyglots become multilingual by studying languages.Language proficiency and learning success varies among individuals. Neuroscience of multilingualism points to possible differences among learners. One theory suggests that a spike in a baby's testosterone levels while in the uterus can increase brain asymmetry, which may relate to music and language ability, among other effects.

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